Plan for Australia's first gay cultural centre

Australia's first gay and lesbian museum could be built in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood in coming months

Australia’s first gay and lesbian cultural centre and museum could be built in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood in coming months, according to local media reports.

Leading the charge is well-known gay publican, Tom McFeely, who along with the backing of a group of other local businesses has applied to Yarra Council to transform a now-empty church hall into a centre helping explain some of the history and culture of the country’s gay and lesbian community.

McFeely, the proprietor of the Peel Hotel in Collingwood, told the Melbourne Leader the cultural centre would focus on information and history relating to the gay and lesbian community that may otherwise be forgotten.

“It would be fun and interactive, but it would also open people’s eyes. I see some older school groups coming through to get more awareness about criminalisation and a few other battles.

“There would be first-hand coming-out stories, and facts about bashings and suicides,” McFeely said.

McFeely has said that his group will pay rent on the former Congregational Church Hall building in Peel St, as well as the continuing costs associated with the museum.

Several councillors have already voiced their support for the proposal.

“It (the history of Melbourne’s gay and lesbian community) is quite an interesting journey and worth following,” Yarra councillor Dale Smedley told the Melbourne Leader.

While Yarra Mayor Alison Clarke said although the idea has “merit”, council would have to first harness the views of the wider community and consider implementing a formal expression-of-interest process before a tenant could be chosen.